Red Bulls Sign Midfielder Jonny Steele

HARRISON, NJ (Feb. 20, 2013) – The New York Red Bulls announced today that they signed midfielder Jonny Steele. New York and Steele agreed to terms after the Red Bulls acquired Steele’s MLS first right of refusal from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a conditional supplemental draft pick.

“Jonny is a player who our coaching staff is very familiar with and believe will provide depth in our midfield,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “We are pleased to have agreed to a contract with Jonny and look forward to his contribution this season.”

Steele, 27, played for one season with Real Salt Lake, making 28 regular season appearances (11 starts) and notching two goals and two assists. The Northern Ireland midfielder began his career with English side, Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2002 and has played for a number of clubs since then, including the then-A League sides Syracuse Salty Dogs (2004) and Rochester Raging Rhinos (2005-06) and Irish club Ballymena United (2005). In 2007, Steele featured for the Carolina Railhawks of the USL First Division.

Steele was a standout with USL-1 side, the Puerto Rico Islanders, from 2008-09, earning USL-1 MVP honors and helping his club win the league championship. During his time there, Steele had six goals in 49 games played. Steele played for the Vancouver Whitecaps (2010), FC Tampa Bay (2010-11) and the Railhawks again on loan (2011) prior to joining Real Salt Lake. With Carolina, Steele was a part of the squad that helped the Railhaawks win the league’s regular season title, making 22 appearances.

He has represented Northern Ireland at several youth levels and was part of the Under-19 squad that played in the 2005 UEFA Championship.